Marquette University
Arizona State
No. 14 Arizona State Sweeps MU, 7-0
3/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 18, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - Despite strong efforts from seniors Erin Watkins, Shannon Brown and Beba Calbeto, another nationally ranked opponent proved to be too much for the Marquette women's tennis team. No. 14 Arizona State swept the Golden Eagles, 7-0, Tuesday afternoon at Whiteman Tennis Center in Tempe, Ariz.
With the loss, Marquette drops to 6-10 overall on the season.
"We played one of the top teams in the country and even though we were unable to win a match today, I thought the top of our lineup competed very well," said head coach Jody Bronson. "We hope to use this toward our two matches in Texas this weekend and pick up some wins."
The Golden Eagles had to shuffle the lineup yet again as they were without the services of junior Robin Metzler and freshman Christina Ruiz against the Sun Devils.
Marquette competed hard in doubles, but was unable to come away with a win in any of the three slots. At No. 1 the senior duo of Brown and Calbeto paired together for the second time this spring and hung with the No. 40 ranked pair Nadia and Laila Abdala until the end but fell short, 8-6.
"Shannon and Beba played really well today. I am proud of their effort and not backing down. They gave them everything they could and just came up short," said Bronson.
Arizona State secured the win with wins over Marquette's bottom of the lineup. Sophomores Maggie Wilson and Elly Strother fell to their respective Sun Devil opponents in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, at Nos. 4 and 5. At No. 6 Brown fell to Lauren Megale, 6-1, 6-2.
Watkins and Calbeto continued their solid play and put up fights against their nationally ranked ASU counterparts. However, both were unable to pull off the upset at the top two positions.
"Erin and Beba were very competitive. Again, they are playing against some of the top competition in the nation and sticking with them. I am very proud of their effort and the way they didn't back down," said Bronson.
No. 35 Nadia Abdala defeated Watkins, 6-3, 6-2, and in the final match of the afternoon No. 40 Kelcy McKenna downed Calbeto, 6-2, 7-5.
The Golden Eagles will continue their spring break in Texas at Texas-Arlington on Friday, March 21 at 2 p.m. CT.
Singles
1. No. 35 Nadia Abdala (ASU) def. Erin Watkins (MARQ) 6-3 6-2
2. No. 40 Kelcy McKenna (ASU) def. Beba Calbeto (MARQ) 6-2 7-5
3. Laila Abdala (ASU) def. Rachael Hush (MARQ) 6-2 6-1
4. Micaela Hein (ASU) def. Elly Strother (MARQ) 6-1 6-1
5. Ashlee Brown (ASU) def. Maggie Wilson (MARQ) 6-1 6-1
6. Lauren Megale (ASU) def. Shannon Brown (MARQ) 6-1 6-2
Order of finish: 5, 6, 4, 3, 1, 2
Doubles
1. N. Abdala & L. Abdala (ASU) def. B. Calbeto/S. Brown (MARQ) 8-6
2. W. Pilecka & J. Leitch (ASU) def. R. Hush/ E. Watkins (MARQ) 8-0
3. M. Hein & K. McKenna (ASU) def. M. Wilson/E. Strother (MARQ) 8-1
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Players Mentioned
